March 2017

Director’s Message

Kia ora

Progress on finishing the new Maire building is progressing. The deck is being built, the contractors are connecting all the services and there is some landscaping to be done to finish the project. The Ministry of Education will then license the building and we will be ready to occupy it. Unfortunately, we don’t have a date to move in yet. Thank you for your patience. You have our undertaking that we are doing what we can to keep things moving along. I will keep you posted about the progress. A very big thank you for the support and assistance from the University staff at FMD. They really have been a fantastic help and support.

The Trust Annual General Meeting is happening on Wednesday, 29 March, and we encourage you to come along, enjoy a wine and cheese event and then the AGM. We look forward to seeing you there.

Sue Bennett

Director

Whekī

Kia ora Whekī whānau

We appreciate all your support as we have had a very busy start to Semester A!

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Alma, Anwar, Ayla Hill, Bethany, Noah, Samuel and Te Waimōna and your whānau. Also, a very warm welcome back to Ollie and her whānau. We look forward to getting to know you all and working together in partnership with you.

We have been enjoying this changeable weather, and exploring this on our deck and outside in the sunshine with water play, as well as outside in the rain! We would appreciate you providing some swimming nappies (reusable or disposable) for your child to use during water play. These can just be left in your child’s locker until they are needed, thank you.

If you have any questions or concerns around your child settling at Whekī, feel free to have a chat with Leona.

Thank you

Whekī Kaiako

Kōwhai

As you may have noticed, this is a very busy time of the year. We have had many new enrolments, often with children starting on the same day. Our priority is to settle these children as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, crying when parents leave is usually part of this process. It can make the environment seem loud and busy. However, all our new children are settling well into life in Kōwhai and hopefully it is becoming easier on parents when leaving their children.

We would like to welcome Max, Mace and their families. We hope your stay with us at Kōwhai will be happy and comfortable. Please ring or talk to a teacher if there is anything you need to know.

Often during the first few months starting in an early childhood environment children will get sick as their immune systems get used to being around others. If they are sick we ask that you keep them home until they are well, which helps halt the spread of viruses and bacteria.

This month we are celebrating the Indian festival Holi. We endeavour to include other nationality’s cultural festivals as not only a sense of belonging for those whose culture it is but for the remainder of our children to experience as well.

Next month we will celebrate Anzac Day with a visit to our Anzac Memorial on River Road and time at Parana Park. We will be going on Monday, 24 April and hope that parents will accompany us to help out and cover ratios.

Maire

We would like to say haere ra to Vincent, Emma, Jorja and their whānau. All the very best and will see you around at Kauri.

As you may already know our new Maire whare is here. Every day we watch as it gets closer and closer to us being able to use it. Final touches are being done, so it shouldn’t be too much longer. Nga mihi nui to all our Maire whānau, you guys have all be amazing and very patient.

We are very sad to say good bye to Kelly who has moved to Kōwhai as the Head Teacher. We will still see her often though. We also would like to say a big ka kite ano to David who has left Creche to start a new profession. We wish him all the very best with his new mahi.

Priscilla has had her baby. She had a big boy weighing in at 8lbs 9oz. His name is Ngaru and he is gorgeous. Mama and pepe doing well, well done Cilla!

Lastly, we would like to wish all the pepe born in Poututerangi a big Hari huritau.

Kia pai to ra

Maire kaiako

Kauri

We would like to say a very warm nau mai haere mai to Emmie, Matilda, Finn, Lara, Finnian, Theo, Leo, Sage, Jorja, Vincent, Emma and Rehua. We have said ka kite ano to Ashtaen, Niya and Valyn as they venture off to start school. We have also farewelled our friend Harvey and his family for safe travels over the next few months, we will see them back again in July.

What’s been happening at Kauri?

Our year has taken off with a bang! We are excited with all the different learning experiences the tamariki have been doing each day they come. Group Time is thriving, especially with their learning of Sign Language.

Can-Do Kids came and did a music class with us, which will be continued next term as a weekly event at no cost to our families. We also had Rueben the Safety Bear come and teach us about keeping ourselves safe.

We have celebrated our first of many HEALTHY HEART days. We would like to say a very big thank you to each and every one of you. We were able to fundraise a total of $51.30! Thank you again for your efforts of dressing your tamariki in red shirts and bringing in your donations.

We have started up our Ngahere trips to Pukemokemoke in the Creche van. Remember that we encourage whānau to get involved so you are more than welcome to see if we have a spare seat in the van for you to join us.

Save the date…

We are very excited to inform you that we will be having an Open Day at Kauri on Saturday, 27 May. There will be plenty of exciting things to participate in, contribute towards and help us fundraise for more ICT and a new turtle enclosure. We look forward to sharing this day with you and hope you can join us with your family and friends.

Also, please save Friday, 30 June into your calendars. We will be having our Matariki celebration on this day. It is going to be a bit different this year as we will be having lunch instead of dinner. We hope you can find time to come and celebrate this amazing event with us. There will be performances, activities, and great kai. Watch this space!!!

We would again like to thank you all for your support in Kauri. Please remember we have an open-door policy, so feel free to come in for a coffee if you have time.

Kia ora whānau

Easter Party

Our annual Easter Party will be happening on Thursday, 13 April at 10.00 am.

Whekī and Kōwhai children will gather in the Kōwhai/Whekī playground for their goodies and celebration.

Maire and Kauri will gather in Kauri for their goodies and a visit from the Easter Bunny. You are most welcome to come along and join in the fun.

Easter Break

Creche will be closed for 3 days over the Easter Break which commences on Friday, 14 April. In addition to being closed on Good Friday, we are also closed on Easter Monday, 17 April and Tuesday, 18 April. Parents will be charged full fees for these days.

Should your child/ren attend Campus Creche part time and their booking falls on one of these public holidays, you are more than welcome to swap the day for another day in the same week. We require written notice and this is subject to availability.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Office.

Full fees apply for ALL days that Creche closed.

Work & Income Childcare Fees

Work & Income are increasing their hourly rates effective from Monday, 3 April 2017. This may reduce the amount payable for some parents. New rates are as follows:

Rate

Hourly rate

March 2017

Hourly rate effective from 3 April 2017

0

$5.00

$5.06

1

$4.00

$4.04

2

$2.79

$2.82

3

$1.55

$1.57

Holiday Programme

Our next Holiday Programme commences on Tuesday, 18 April for 2 weeks at Hillcrest Normal School.

They are off doing an Amazing Race in Hamilton the first week and then off to Waitomo Caves followed by a nature walk in the second week.

The programme runs from 8.00 am to 5.30 pm. Weekly and daily bookings are available.

If you wish to enrol your child/ren for the April programme or future 2017 programmes, please contact the Creche Office for an enrolment form.